Thanksgiving Activities for Kids: Create a Thankful Tree with Your Family

Thanksgiving is a perfect time to embrace gratitude and togetherness. It’s an ideal season for kids to dive into creative projects that celebrate the spirit of thankfulness. At Kido, we focus on activities and lessons that nurture creativity, gratitude, and family bonding. We believe learning continues beyond the classroom, and we’re excited to share ideas you can enjoy at home too!

One of our favorite ways to celebrate Thanksgiving is by making a Family Thankful Tree. This simple craft not only makes for beautiful Thanksgiving tree decorations but also serves as a visual reminder of what your family is grateful for. In this blog, we will explore some inspiring thankful tree ideas, perfect for preschool & daycare children to try at home with your family

1. Why Create a Family Thankful Tree?

A Family Thankful Tree is a wonderful way to bring everyone together and express gratitude. Here’s why it’s such a great Thanksgiving craft for families:

Teaches Gratitude: Kids learn to recognize the little things they are thankful for, from family and friends to pets and toys.
Encourages Family Bonding: It’s a collaborative activity that allows everyone to contribute, making it a meaningful Thanksgiving family activity.
Perfect for All Ages: Whether at home, preschool, or daycare, kids of all ages can participate, making it an inclusive and versatile project.
Decorative and Functional: Not only does it serve as a lovely piece of Thanksgiving tree decoration, but it also becomes a centerpiece that sparks conversations about gratitude throughout the holiday season.

2. Getting Started: Supplies You’ll Need

Creating a Thankful Tree doesn’t require many supplies, and you likely already have most of them at home. Here’s a list of materials needed for this Thanksgiving craft:

Paper or Cardboard: You can use construction paper, brown paper bags, or cardboard to create the tree trunk and leaves.
Markers, Crayons, or Paint: Let the kids decorate and personalize their leaves with their favorite colors.
Scissors and Glue: Essential tools for cutting out the leaves and attaching them to the tree branches.
Twigs or Branches: You can collect real branches from outside or use craft sticks to form the base of the tree.
String or Ribbon: For hanging the leaves if you prefer a 3D effect.
Gratitude Prompts: Prepare some ideas or questions to help kids think about what they are thankful for, such as “What made you smile today?” or “Who is someone you love spending time with?”

3. Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make a Thankful Tree

Follow these simple steps to create your own Thankful Tree as part of your Thanksgiving gratitude activities:

Step 1: Create the Tree Trunk and Branches
- Cut out a large tree trunk shape from brown paper or cardboard. For a 3D effect, use twigs or branches and place them in a vase or jar.
Step 2: Make the Leaves
- Cut out leaf shapes from colorful construction paper. Have the kids color and decorate them with markers, crayons, or paint.
Step 3: Write Down What You’re Thankful For
- Encourage kids to write or draw something they are grateful for on each leaf. This is a great Thanksgiving craft for kids to express their creativity and feelings.
Step 4: Attach the Leaves to the Tree
- Use glue, tape, or string to attach the leaves to the tree. If using real branches, you can tie the leaves with ribbon for a beautiful, hanging effect.
Step 5: Display your Thankful Tree
- Place the Thankful Tree in a prominent spot in your home, preschool, or daycare where everyone can see it and be reminded of all the things they are grateful for.

4. Fun Variations of the Thankful Tree

There are many ways to customize your Family Thankful Tree. Here are some unique twists:

Jar of Gratitude Leaves: Instead of attaching the leaves to a tree, place them in a decorative jar. Each day, pull out a leaf and read what someone is thankful for.
Thankful Tree Wall Display: Create a large mural on a wall using paper, where kids can add their leaves throughout the week.
Photo Thankful Tree: Instead of writing words, use printed photos of people, pets, or activities that family members are thankful for.
Nature-Themed Tree: Collect leaves from outside and use them as part of your tree, integrating nature into your Thanksgiving crafts for kids.

5. Incorporating Thankful Trees into Thanksgiving Family Activities

Thankful Trees are not just for crafting—they can be part of broader Thanksgiving activities for kids and families:

Gratitude Storytime: Read a book about gratitude before creating the Thankful Tree to set the theme and give kids some ideas.
Thankful Sharing Circle: Gather the family or group of kids in a circle and have each person pick a leaf from the tree to share what they wrote.
Interactive Games: Turn it into a game by having kids guess who wrote each leaf.
Daily Gratitude Ritual: Make it a habit to add a leaf each day leading up to Thanksgiving. This helps instill the practice of gratitude regularly.

Making a Family Thankful Tree is more than just a Thanksgiving craft—it’s a tradition that can be enjoyed year after year. It’s a simple, yet powerful, way to teach kids about gratitude and the importance of appreciating the good things in life. Whether you are doing it as a family at home or as part of Thanksgiving activities for kids in a preschool or daycare setting, the Thankful Tree is a memorable project that brings everyone together.

This Thanksgiving, take time to create your own Thankful Tree, enjoy the process, and reflect on all the wonderful things you have to be grateful for. It’s a beautiful way to celebrate the holiday and a perfect opportunity to start a new tradition that your family will cherish for years to come. Happy Thanksgiving, and Happy Crafting!